菊と刀

Kiku to Katana series
(The Chrysanthemum and the Sword)

 

 

the ” Kiku to Katana (The Chrysanthemum and the Sword)” series, in which a chrysanthemum is depicted by sand iron and a magnet.”The Chrysanthemum and Sword” is a book that descr- ibes Japanese culture published in 1946 by American cultural anthropologist Ruth Benedict. In this book, the author analyzed Japanese culture-specific values such as gratitude, law, and shame, and presented Japanese behavior patterns. Although there are criticisms to the book such as disseminating a false common belief that “Japanese are collectivism” sometimes, the context represents one side of Japanese.The artist inspired by this book, named “The Chrysa- nthemum and Sword ” from the Japanese culture symbolized by “ Kiku’s Grace and Sword Killing, ” he has tried in this work, to produce an image using the iron sand, which is the raw material of the Japanese sword and drawn the figure of the Japanese who are attracted by the magnet arranged in the form of symbol of chrysanthemum.

 


Kiku to Katana#1

2019

iron sand, magnet, canvas, panel

116.7×91(cm)

Kiku to Katana#0

2019

iron sand, magnet, canvas, panel

53×45.5(cm)